Mike Candrea is the most successful college softball coach in the nation, with an impressive record of 877 wins over 18 years. His teams advanced to the College World Series the past 14 seasons, appeared in the final in nine consecutive seasons and won the championship six times--in 1991, '93, '94, '96, '97 and 2001. In 1998 Arizona won an NCAA record 67 games.

In 2001, the Wildcats finished the year 65-4 overall and capped a 26-game winning streak to close the season with a 1-0 victory over UCLA in the WCWS title game. The 2000 squad finished 59-9 overall. In NCAA Tournament action, Mike has a 70-18 mark (.795). No Division I softball coach has a better career winning percentage. His 15-year Arizona record of 818-156 (.840) is the best in the business. He was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame in 1996.

Candrea (Arizona State '78) was selected Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 1998, the fifth time he has been so honored. In 1999 the conference placed five of eight teams in the College World Series. Candrea's players have earned 46 All-America playing honors, plus six Academic All-America honors. Candrea is sought by softball and baseball coaches for instructional clinics. He is particularly known for hitting techniques, team fielding drills and motivation. In recent years he has consulted with major league baseball stars such as Don Mattingly and Tony Gwynn in national hitting clinics and in the past year conducted or participated in dozens of such sessions to help improve the way softball is taught and played. He has written several books and produced a number of videotapes.

Candrea spent 1981-85 coaching Central Arizona College and his team won consecutive NJCAA World Series in his final two seasons, earning him national coach the year honors. He was an assistant baseball coach from 1976-80 at Central, his alma mater. Candrea earned a bachelor's degree at Arizona State in 1978 and a master's degree from ASU in 1980.